Microsoft backs down on anti-Apple adverts
WHILE THE SULTANS of spin at Microsoft made much merriment of the fact that Apple had sent lawyers to get it to change its anti-Mac adverts, it seems that the Vole has backed down.
Versions of the Laptop Hunter adverts which went out have been slightly modified.
The advert features Lauren, the aspiring law student, and her mom, who claims that Lauren usually gets what she wants.
In the original version of the ad, Lauren, who wants to spend a maximum of $1,700 on her computing dreams, offered this competing statement: "This Mac is $2,000, and that's before adding anything."
In the advert her Mother asks her why she would pay twice the price, which Lauren says she wouldn't.
However the conversation between mother and daughter has now been cut. Now Lauren merely says: "It seems like you're paying a lot for the brand."
A spokesVole said that it had slightly adjusted the ads to reflect the updated pricing of the Mac laptop shown in the TV advertisement. But this does not change the focus of the campaign, which is to showcase the value and choice of the PC, he added.
The tame Apple press has hailed the move as a master stroke by Jobs' Mob lawyers which will 'put truth back into advertising'. The question is why did the Vole back down?
Well our deep throat inside the Vole said that the reason was simple. If punters go to a shop and are thinking about an Apple or a real PC they will think about the advert. If they are not saving at least half they will think the advert is a lie. It is better to say the same thing in a different way and continue the "Macs-are-too-expensive" campaign.
It is a rationale that Apple marketeers might like to think of when they make comparisons between a PC and a Mac. µ
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Ha Ha Apple has been targetting Microsoft for such a long time and now when Microsoft has hit back, Apple had to call their lawyers clearly suggests that Steve Jobs is Chicken. He lost all the respect I had for him. I thought he'll counter it with some smart campaign but He chowked.
"Put the truth back into advertising"? Really? Also, there are no foreign troops in Baghdad! I triple guarantee you!
I think Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf must work for Apple.
The Inquirer is right on. I didn't see the big deal, MS is still slamming Apple for over priced gear made in China, be it nice though and I want a new 13" Macbook Pro from Santa myself. This is nit picking lawyer crap, that's about it.
I say the girl who had $1,700 to spend and didn't pick up a 2.53 GHz 15" Macbook Pro at $1,699 and instead opted for a 900 Dell is an eejit.
So... it's okay for Apple to make the "I'm a Mac/PC" adds... but if Microsoft goes after a softspot... like... the fact that Apple makes fat profits off it's PC's by charging more than any other manufacturer... then that's... not fair?
I'm sorry Apple... but if you do want to grab more market share from PC's maybe you should... I don't know... lower the price a bit? Considering you make mostly profit from these things I don't see how this can really fail - you might just need to rely on "attachments"
btw - you may not know this, but whenever you buy just a computer, the retail store your buying it from is actually loosing money. Crazy? Just ask - usually when a laptop is on sale the store is loosing out on that by 10% - ever wonder why they are so hard-pressed with those warranties or ANYTHING else to go along with it? They're trying to make up for the cost of the PC to them. They don't worry about it so much with Apple, because the cost is so high on these they can rake in an easy profit... oddly people still end up getting attachments with these... (Case, mouse, monitor... etc)
it's two different business models, and they are currently making fun of each other... one however can't seem to take the heat.
... poor Adam, who did mess with an Apple, was thrown out of Eden just because he did. He thought he was going to look COOL with that Apple, even better, he hoped he would score with Eve; instead..... according to legend, we're still paying Adam's debt.
Now, had he known about PCs, we would probably still be in Eden!
.... still think Apple isn't overpriced?
Truth in Advertising... How is saying that its cheaper to buy a Windows based computer than buying a Mac NOT the Truth. I am seeing $300 computers in Wal*Mart with Windows, and just went to Macs website... the CHEAPEST system was a Mac Mini starting at double that price and you can barely call it a computer with its wopping 1 GB of memory.
But then again, lawyers dont work for truth, they work for money :)
Why not a commercial that compare a Mac to a MS PC to a Linux PC? But I digress...
If Apple has lowered it's price in response to MS ads, then all MS has done (long term) is made Apple computers more attractive to consumers.
The ads will be forgotten, but even a small increase in market share can have big long-term effects.
Did Microsoft sue over the "I'm a PC" add campaign? No. Why? More than 90% of the world uses PC's. As soon as Microsoft points out that Macs are overpriced "trendy designed" PC's made in China, Apple cries foul and worries that the truth will get out. LOL!!!! What a joke...
I can see exactly why Apple were annoyed (and still should be following the changes), they pulled a couple of fast-ones at least in the comparison.
Lauren's spec: Speed, portability & battery life. She's a law student.
1) She looks at a $2000 15" MacBook pro and complains about the price BUT she then dismisses 15" PC laptops as too big and ends up with a 13" PC laptop (no comparison with 13" Macs, not like for like)
2) Speed is important to her, but the base model $1000 XPS 13 is only 2.0GHz and comes with 3GB of RAM (mismatched memory modules, anyone here know what that does to speed?). The base model 13" MacBook Pro clocks in at 2.26GHz and the next model up at 2.53GHz
3) Battery life is important, but independent benchmark tests put the standard battery life of the XPS 13 at 2 hours 37 minutes. The 13" MacBook runs more than double that time, 6 hours 13 minutes, under OS X or 4 hours 50 under Vista. Buy the extra 9 cell battery for the XPS (for an extra $100) and it should be able to make it past the 4 hour mark, but its still well short of the MacBook.
4) She's a STUDENT. Apple hands out educational discounts for FFS. She wouldn't have to pay the sticker price anyway.
Try going to the DELL website and spec'ing up an XPS 13 to the same level as the mid level 13" MacBook (Add 2.53GHz CPU, LED backlit display, BlueTooth module & 9 cell battery). All of a sudden the price difference is down to $96 at normal RRP. Knock educational discount off for the Apple and, for an equivalent system (but with better battery life), the Mac is cheaper. What would Microsoft say if Apple ran that advert?
So when push comes to shove, you can always buy a cheaper PC, providing you don't mind a poorer specification and/or lower performance.
I just have to laugh every time i see those Mac ads. Some bloke really did not think that through when they made them. For you fan boys who haven't realized it yet, A MAC IS A PC! PC means PERSONAL COMPUTER, so unless what Mac is saying is it isn't your computer, you HAVE a PC.
Apple has a valid point here.
Their 'Mac vs PCs' adverts compared an Apple computer with any generic PC - it could be running Windoze, or any number of strains of penguinware. It could be made by Dell, HP, or your neighbour Betty's grandson's mate.
Microsoft's adverts have been critical of Apple specifically, and as such is borderline slander.
Regardless, Microsoft's ads only seem to devalue the PC more IMHO. It's like trying to justify that you can 'make do' with a Vauxhall Astra, when you know you'd rather have a Golf or an A3, even if the Astra is cheaper and quicker from 0-60.
Apple has a valid point here.
Their 'Mac vs PCs' adverts compared an Apple computer with any generic PC - it could be running Windoze, or any number of strains of penguinware. It could be made by Dell, HP, or your neighbour Betty's grandson's mate.
Microsoft's adverts have been critical of Apple specifically, and as such is borderline slander.
Regardless, Microsoft's ads only seem to devalue the PC more IMHO. It's like trying to justify that you can 'make do' with a Vauxhall Astra, when you know you'd rather have a Golf or an A3, even if the Astra is cheaper and quicker from 0-60.
I used to like Apple both as a company and as a gadget leader. They have turned into bullies and tyrants. They can make up stuff about MS that are stretched beyond belief but MS can't say their products are overpriced. Bastards, I quit buy Apple because the company is run by arrogant assholes and have the fanbase to encourage them to continue doing just that.